NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after an 84-year-old man was attacked and robbed in his home.

The pensioner was watching television and sleeping in his lounge at home in Hazelton Way, Cowplain, when three attackers broke in at about 5.30pm on Wednesday.

One thug bashed in the back door and tried to confuse the pensioner by telling him to look at the damage, while asking for £50.

Two other men then came in and knocked him to the floor before stealing his wallet and running off.

Ann Adair, who has lived in the road for 40 years, said she had never heard of a burglary happening there before.

She said: ‘It’s shocking. They must have known what they were doing. If they went in the back, no-one could have seen them.’

This type of thing is very unusual and very distressing

Anthony Briggs

Brian Andrews, from Cowplain, said: ‘It’s pretty horrifying. Robbery is bad enough but when there’s violence as well, it’s up a notch. Unfortunately it’s a sign of the times.’

Cowplain Chip Shop manager Mert Altunatmaz said he saw five police cars speed past after the crime was reported. He said: ‘It is a shock. You don’t expect something like this to happen in this area so when it does you’re surprised.’

Havant borough councillor for Cowplain ward Anthony Briggs said it was ‘absolutely terrible’.

Cllr Briggs said: ‘A lot of elderly and retired people live in this area and out of all the wards in Havant, Cowplain has one of the lowest crime rates.

‘This type of thing is very unusual and very distressing.’

Det Con Barry Martin said he was appalled by the attack.

He said: ‘This is a despicable crime committed by three men who targeted an elderly man in his home.